SECY-22-0030, Weekly Information Report - Week Ending March 25, 2022
| ML22090A174 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/11/2022 |
| From: | Sherri Miotla NRC/EDO/AO |
| To: | Commissioners NRC/OCM |
| Jolicoeur J | |
| References | |
| Download: ML22090A174 (10) | |
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INFORMATION REPORT APRIL 04, 2022 SECY-22-0030 FOR: The Commissioners FROM: Sherri Miotla Assistant for Operations (Acting)
Office of the Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING MARCH 25, 2022 CONTENTS Enclosure Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer A Office of the Chief Information Officer B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation C Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards D Office of the Secretary E Signed by Miotla, Sherri on 04/11/22 Sherri Miotla Assistant for Operations (Acting), OEDO CONTACT: John R. Jolicoeur, OEDO 301-415-1642
ML22090A174 OFFICE OEDO OEDO/AO NAME JJolicoeur SMiotla DATE 3/31/2022 4 /4/2022 Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)
Items of Interest Week Ending March 25, 2022 ARRIVALS BARCLIFT, TIFFANY HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST OIG BRADFIELD, MATTHEW REACTOR TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR OCHCO HAMMOCK, JESSICA PROJECT MANAGER NRR HAMMOCK, TYLER PROJECT MANAGER NMSS HAYES, JOSEPH INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST NSIR HUGO, KYLE CONTRACT SPECIALIST ADM JONES, LAWRENCE PHYSICAL SECURITY INSPECTOR R-I JUNG, DERRICK PROJECT ENGINEER (RI-DP) R-II LAWSON, JOSEPH MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST ADM MESZAROS, JENNIFER REACTOR ENGINEER R-III NEAL, DARRELL HEALTH PHYSICIST R-II YUAN, ZHE RX SYS ENG (SEVERE ACCIDENT) RES RETIREMENTS HASKELL II, RUSSELL S. PROJECT MANAGER (OP REACTOR LICENSING) NRR COOK, WILLIAM SENIOR REACTOR ANALYST RI DEPARTURES CRESPO, GUILLERMO SR. CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR R-II APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE A
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
Items of Interest Week Ending March 25, 2022 Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Requests, Appeals, and Consultations Received During the Period of March 21 - March 25, as submitted by requester Tracking Requesters Request Received Requesters Name Number Organization Description Date 2022-000112 1 2022-000113 Michael Ravnitzky A copy of the Title Page 03/24/2022 only for SECY-75-194A Case number, NRC-2022-000112, was deleted by the requester U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Holds Third Public Meeting on Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
On March 28, 2022, the NRC held its third CUI public meeting to provide an update on the NRCs plans to transition from Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information to CUI on September 20, 2022. The discussion focused on the impacts of the NRCs transition to external stakeholders (e.g., licensees, applicants, Agreement State regulators, etc.). Specifically, the CUI rule requires that agencies establish written agreements, where feasible, when sharing CUI with non-executive branch entities. During the public meeting, the staff shared its efforts to work with The National Archives and Records Administration and other departments and agencies from across the government, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to establish a multi-agency CUI information-sharing agreement. Benefits of a standard agreement include reducing non-executive branch entities entering into separate CUI agreements with agencies, minimizing confusion over CUI compliance, and enhancing collaboration across agencies. In addition, the staff discussed its efforts to minimize the burden of complying with NIST SP 800-171 on non-executive entities. Agencies are required (per 32 CFR 2002) to prescribe National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication (NIST SP) 800-171 requirements in CUI information-sharing agreements. The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and other NRC external stakeholders, provided feedback during the meeting that it will take a significant level of effort for them to meet the requirements in NIST SP 800-171. The NEI plans to submit a letter to the NRC describing the industry concerns and potential alternatives to support the sharing of CUI. A representative from the National Archives and Records and Administration, Information Security Oversight Office, supported the NRCs CUI public meeting to address questions on federal-wide implementation of CUI and NIST SP 800-171.
APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE B
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
Items of Interest Week Ending March 25, 2022 NRC to Revise the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) License Amendment Request Schedule Due to Identified Nonconservative Assumption in Analysis The TVA submitted a Hydrologic Analysis License Amendment Request (LAR) for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant on January 14, 2020, which was supplemented on February 18, 2020, then accepted for review by NRC staff on February 20, 2020. While working to respond to staff Requests for Additional Information and staff audit questions, TVA identified a nonconservative assumption in the LAR flood analysis and a related secondary impact of this assumption. The TVA informed the NRC staff that a supplement to the LAR would be submitted in June of 2022.
The LAR review has exceeded the 2-year Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) generic milestone schedule. Based on the scope and amount of new information expected in the supplement, the staff plans to coordinate with the licensee and establish an updated review schedule following receipt and review of the supplemental information. The schedule is expected to exceed the 180-day Congressional NEIMA reporting requirement and will be monitored through the NRCs Enterprise Risk Management process going forward.
NRC Hosted Public Meeting to Discuss a Variety of Topics On March 23, 2022, the NRC staff hosted a public meeting to discuss: Planned Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Self-Assessment Activities in 2022, ROP Frequently Asked Question 22-01 proposing the retirement of the Alert and Notification System performance indicator (PI) and the addition of an Emergency Response Facility and Equipment Readiness PI ML22055A562), NRCs Role in the DOEs Civilian Nuclear Credit Program (ML22075A351), and Petition for Rulemaking to amend the immediate notification requirements for nonemergency events in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.72 (ML22081A301).
Attendees included the industrys ROP Task Force, NextEra, Entergy, and members of the public. The next bi-monthly public meeting on ROP related matters is tentatively scheduled for May 26, 2022.
NRC Issued First Exemption Using Risk-Informed Process for Evaluations On March 23, 2022, the staff issued its first exemption using the NRCs Risk-Informed Process for Evaluations (RIPE). Arizona Public Service Company submitted a request on January 14, 2022, for an exemption from 10 CFR 50.62(c)(1) to remove the Diverse Auxiliary Feedwater Actuation System from the Palo Verde licensing basis for all three units. The staff completed its no technical objection review on January 31, 2022, thereby accepting this exemption under the RIPE process. Consistent with the streamlined review process of RIPE for issues characterized as having a minimal safety impact, the staff successfully completed its review within the timeliness goal of 13 weeks. The staff will conduct a lessons-learned of this first-of-a-kind review and will identify and implement best practices for future reviews of applications submitted under the RIPE process.
APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE C
NRC Staff Hold a Public Meeting on the Safety and Environmental Review for the Hermes Test Reactor On March 23, 2022, staff from the NRR and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards held a virtual public meeting to describe the safety and environmental review the staff is conducting for the construction permit application from Kairos Power LLC for the Hermes test reactor, which would be located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The staff also solicited comments from the public on the scope of the environmental review. The meeting was well attended with approximately 60 attendees from local governments, the public, industry, and non-governmental organizations. Attendees provided approximately 16 environmental scoping comments that focused on support for the project.
NRC Staff Hold Observation Public Meeting with NuScale about Requirements for Licensed Operators On March 23, 2022, the staff held an observation public meeting with NuScale Power, LLC (NuScale) to follow up on information presented during a November 9, 2021, observation meeting where NuScale suggested a reduction in the experience requirements for operators at a NuScale facility as compared to current requirements for licensed operators at power reactors.
The NRC staff requested this meeting to better understand the reason for this change. NuScale provided additional information about their proposed requirements and also stated they are developing accreditation documents with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) that could be used for selecting licensed operator applicants at future NuScale facilities. The staff requested NuScale keep them informed of progress on the accreditation documents to assess whether the proposed approach will be consistent with Commission policy for education and experience. Representatives from INPO were also in attendance.
NRC Staff Hold a Public Meeting about Development of Regulatory Framework for Commercial Fusion Energy Systems On March 23, 2022, the NRR staff hosted a public meeting supporting the NRCs development of a regulatory framework for commercial fusion energy systems. Presentations included a methodology to identify and characterize fusion hazards; a high-level analysis of accident scenarios and potential offsite impacts; Commonwealth Fusion Systems path to commercialization and tritium management system; and the Helion Energy design, operational safety systems, and accident analysis. The meeting was attended by Agreement States, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, fusion developers, international regulators, academics, public interest groups and members of the public. Insights gathered from the meeting will inform the development of a notation vote paper presenting options for the regulation of commercial fusion energy systems.
NRC Staff Hosted Workshop on Lessons Learned of Digital Instrumentation and Controls and Human Factor Engineering On March 23, 2022, the NRR, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and Region IV staff hosted a digital instrumentation and controls (I&C) workshop with industry stakeholders to discuss licensing and inspection lessons learned from recent digital modernization projects, and potential licensing options for Human Factor APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE C
Engineering (HFE) of the significant control room modifications. Over 100 stakeholders attended the workshop and engaged in robust discussions on presentations by the NRC, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the DOE, Entergy, NextEra and Constellation (ML22077A409, ML22080A021, and ML22076A191). The NRC staff plans to apply these lessons learned in near-term licensing and inspection actions for digital modernization projects. The staff will also continue to exercise new guidance in DI&C-ISG-06 (Digital I&C Licensing Process Interim Staff Guidance) and Branch Technical Position 7-19 for the pending Turkey Point and Limerick license amendment reviews. The staff plans to continue with public engagements on specific topics, including HFE reviews and updates to I&C Regulatory Guides.
NRC Staff to Review Northwest Medical Isotopes, LLC Request to Terminate Construction Permit On March 25, 2022, the NRC received a letter from Northwest Medical Isotopes, LLC (NWMI) requesting termination of its construction permit, CPMIF-002 (ML22084A004). On May 9, 2018, the NRC issued NWMI a construction permit under 10 CFR Part 50 to construct a medical isotope production facility in Columbia, Missouri. NWMI has not commenced construction, has not received radioactive material, and has never owned or leased the site. The NRC staff will evaluate the information provided by NWMI and begin the review to amend the license for termination.
NRC Staff Participated in White House Summit on Commercial Fusion Technologies On March 17, 2022, staff from NRR participated in the White House Summit on Developing a Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy where government, industry, academia, and other stakeholders discussed strategies for deploying commercial fusion technologies. The public panel discussion addressed the status and benefits of fusion technology, environmental justice, and the fusion industrys vision. The NRR staff also participated in closed breakout sessions on the path to fusion commercialization. The fusion industry expressed concerns with adopting a utilization facility regulatory approach, the impact of export controls on commercialization, and the need to develop a regulatory framework that is appropriate for the risks and hazards associated with fusion. Insights from this meeting will inform the staffs development of a notation vote paper on regulatory options for commercial fusion energy systems.
APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE C
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
Items of Interest Week Ending March 25, 2022 Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility License Amendment On March 18, 2022, the NRC staff approved Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility request for alternate disposal of specified volumetrically contaminated and surface-contaminated low-activity radioactive waste containing byproduct material and special nuclear material to the US Ecology, Inc. (USEI) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C disposal facility located near Grand View, Idaho. Westinghouse was granted a license amendment and exemption to transfer the material (Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22061A052), and the USEI was granted an exemption to receive the material (ADAMS Accession No. ML22068A051).
Triso-X Exemption Request On March 18, 2022, the NRC staff approved the Triso-X exemption request, which allows the applicant to submit the Safety Analysis Report in advance of the Environmental Report (exemption from 10 CFR 51.60(a) and 70.21(f)). The approved exemption (ADAMS Accession No. ML22055A559) supports Triso-Xs schedule and improves the efficiency of the review. It allows for greater flexibility with the review schedule and use of resources, without negatively impacting the safety, security, or environmental elements of the review.
Decommissioning Rule Public Meeting On March 21, 2022, the staff held a hybrid public meeting on the decommissioning rulemaking proposed rule (87 FR 12254). There were 76 members of the public in attendance. Two members of the public attended in person, and the rest participated remotely. Attendees included 27 individuals affiliated with the nuclear industry, 6 tribal representatives, 12 from state governments, 2 from other Federal agencies, 6 congressional staffers, and 23 were unaffiliated.
The staff discussed the proposed rule to facilitate submissions of public comments. The staff will hold a second hybrid public meeting on the proposed rule on March 31, 2022, at NRC Headquarters. The public comment period on the proposed rule ends on May 17, 2022.
Nuclear Fuel Services Exemption Request On March 23, 2022, the staff approved the Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS), exemption request to modify a license condition regarding NRC-observation of a force-on-force exercise for calendar year 2021, at its fuel fabrication facility located in Erwin, Tennessee (ADAMS Accession No. ML22075A380). The NFS requested this exemption because conditions caused by the Coronavirus disease prevented the licensee from providing the 60-day advance notice, in accordance with 10 CFR 73.46(b)(9), for the exercise to be observed within the timeframe required by the license condition. The NFS resumed force-on-force exercises at their regular frequency and NRC will observe the triennial force-on-force exercise later this year.
APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE D
Holtec International HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Review Request for Additional Information On March 23, 2022, the NRC staff issued a letter to Holtec International transmitting a third request for additional information in connection with its safety review of the HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility in Lea County, New Mexico. The letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML22062B669) requests that Holtec notify, within 2 weeks of receipt, its proposed schedule for submission of its responses. The staff expects to publish a schedule for the completion of the safety review, environmental review, and final licensing decision approximately 30 days after receipt of Holtecs responses.
APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE D
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Items of Interest Week Ending March 25, 2022 Document Released to Public Date of Subject Document Decision Documents
- 1. SECY-22-0019 03/08/22 Rulemaking Plan for Revision of Embrittlement and Surveillance Requirements for High-Fluence Plants in Long-Term Operation
- 2. Commission Voting Record 03/23/22 Final Rule - Fitness for Duty Drug Testing VR-SECY-21-0082 Requirements (RIN 3150 AI67; NRC-2009-0225)
- 3. Staff Requirements Memorandum 03/23/22 Selection of Presiding Officer for Mandatory SECY-21-0107 Hearings Associated with Construction Permit Applications Information Papers
- 1. None Memoranda
- 1. Staff Requirements Memorandum 03/23/22 Affirmation Session - SECY-21-0082 Final Rule -
M220323 Fitness for Duty Drug Testing Requirements (RIN 3150 AI67; NRC-2009-0225) and SECY-21-0102 NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2), Appeal from LBP 21 5 Commission Correspondence
- 1. None Federal Register Notices Issued
- 1. None APRIL 04, 2022 ENCLOSURE E